Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalalkopi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Docalalkopi’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with light red purple-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALALKOPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa X hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docalalkopi’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new early-flowering and freely-branchingCalibrachoa plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2012 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code numberAA09-004850-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code numberAA-0413, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Docalalkopi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Docalalkopi’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and        decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large flowers with light red purple-colored petals.    -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier and more freely        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have darker red purple-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent have        white-colored flowers with green-colored venation.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoasp. ‘Duealcohopi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.14/999,795. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Duealcohopi’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of        ‘Duealcohopi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger leaves than plants        of ‘Duealcohopi’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Duealcohopi’.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of        ‘Duealcohopi’.    -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Duealcohopi’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Ducalcohopi’ have more red-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Docalalkopi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C.and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinchedone time three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa X hybrida ‘Docalalkopi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number            AA09-004850-001, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA-00413,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright to outwardly            spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely            branching habit with about 11 to 13 primary lateral branches            each with about eleven secondary lateral branches developing            per plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and full            appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to lop of floral plane.—About 21            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 58 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 38 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144B; at the internodes, close            to 144B.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 146D; at the internodes, close to            144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after            flowering, opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137D.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:            Close to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 300 to 450 flowers developing per plant during the            flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six            weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the            spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled,            pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 154C and 72D.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N74A; towards            the throat, close to 59A. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: Close to 72D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 73A; towards the throat, close to 59A; venation,            close to 59A; color becoming closer to N74A with            development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to            72D; venation, close to 59A; color becoming closer to N74A            with development. Throat: Close to 7B; venation, close to            59A. Tube: Close to 151D; venation, close to 59 A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal            width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing            and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137C. When            developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to            137D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to            145B. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal.            Anther color: Close to 7B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 13C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 9.5 mm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style            color: Close to 145A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary            color: Close to 145A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:            About 300 during the flowering season. Length: About 6 mm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to N199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 46.            Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 200A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,    temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 28° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Docalalkopi’ as illustrated and described.